Owner Bellman hoping to realise American dream with Teodoro at Belmont

Teodoro: a commanding winner of the Rose of Lancaster

John Grossick / racingpost.com/photos

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By James Burn
6:15PM, SEP 22 2018

Owner Laurence Bellman has had runners in the States before but never a winner, although he reckons Teodoro has a fighting chance of putting that right in next Saturday's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park.

Trained by Tom Dascombe, Teodoro runs in the increasingly familiar blue and yellow silks of Bellman, who part-owns him with Caroline Ingram.

The son of Teofilo was down the field in the Ebor last time but was an authoritative winner of Haydock's Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes before then.

A repeat of that effort, Bellman believes, will put the four-year-old bang in the mix in the Grade 1 over a mile and a half, which is worth $500,000.

"He's very well," said the owner. "We haven't decided who is riding and there's still a lot to sort out, but I'm seriously thinking of flying in and flying out as I've never been to Belmont before.

"I have had runners in America, but no winners so far."

Teodoro, due to travel to the States this weekend, is set to be the only European runner in the Joe Hirsch, which was last won by an overseas visitor in 2011 when Aidan O'Brien struck with Cape Blanco.

"We think it's a winnable Grade 1," Bellman added. "There are 14 entries and we're the only European horse in the field. There are one or two up-and-coming horses, but the others are older and hopefully if he brings his Haydock form he'll be right there."

Tom Dascombe: Teodoro's trainer has already enjoyed success Stateside

Edward Whitaker

Unlike Bellman, Dascombe has enjoyed success in North America with Crowley's Law and Rhythm Of Light.

A positive performance from Teodoro could lead him towards another of the continent's major middle-distance turf events.

"We were hoping to go for the Caulfield Cup, but there were too many ifs and buts, so we looked at this and if he runs well we'll hopefully leave him out there and go to Toronto for the Canadian International," said Bellman.

Belmont Park also hosts the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday, when the O'Brien-trained Mendelssohn could be in action as connections chart a course towards the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Godolphin's Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow is also an intended runner in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His preparation will be overseen by Tommy Burns, travelling head groom to trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

"We'll just take a couple of easy days until he gets out of quarantine and then see how he is, but he seems in good order," said Burns, quoted on bloodhorse.com.